Clutch control mechanism



July 20, 1937. Ml W|NDEL|NCKX 2,087,493

CLUTCH CONTROL MECHANI SM Original Filed May 12, 1930 Patented July zo,1937 [UNITED-.sTATlis v aos-'1,499 ctUrCn'coN'moL 'MECHANISM y Mauricewinaelinekx, Brussels, BelgiumL originel epplieetiee Mey 12,r 1930,serial Ne'. 451,760. Divided and this application March 1 z, 1935,kserial Ne. 9,080. nl Frenee Mey 15,

4 fole'ims. (ol. 19a-.01)

My invention relates to an automatic device for'operatingthe clutchmechanism of af mechanically propelled vehicle.'

In motor vehicles or othermeans of-lo'co'mo- 5 tion the object of theclutch is to coupleor uncouple an engine to the transmission.` Thisclutch is generally actuated apedal or by a hand lever.

The object of the present invention is tore--A nlieve the operator'ofthis eort by'` providing a device making use of thevacuum existing in`the intake manifold of an internal combustion .l`

engine.

175 tions which occur, in such a" reduced pressure system according' tothe operating' conditions of the engineare employedto actate adistributor valve which serve'sfto connect a-vacuum servomotor,forfmoving-the clutch mechanisrmeither to a reduced pressure system orto the, atmosphere.

This application is a division of copending application for LettersPatentA of the United States, Serial No. 451,760,` filed May .12, 1930,under the provision of the InternationalConvention.

The invention will be `more particularly described ,with reference tothe accompanying drawing, which `is a longitudinal sectional view 0cordance 'with my invention.

In accordance with this invention` the distributor device isautomatically operated by a piston acting under the effect of the vacuumwhich existsin the intake manifold o f the engine and enables a sloweror quicker-action of the .servomotorin order to produce aslow andgradual clutching whenthe vehicleis started, or a quick clutching whenshifting from one speedto an otherthe vehicle being in fr notion. e

Aating means of the distributorcomprises a cylin .der 40 in which apistonlis mounted so as .to be displaced against the tension,v of aspring 42 under the action of the Vacuum -existing in the intakeatmosphere.

A stem 33 is formed of two members 33?- and 33, the adjacent endsofwhich are `threaded and be connected to the intake manifold of theenof apparatus constructed andarranged` in ac- Hlows: l

According to the present invention` the operV comprised behind thepiston ,between the lat, ter and the head Ml'l of the said cylinder, Atothe gine through orifice 1,`chamber lliilf", conduits 3l,

v34"jand port 36. f

At a' point approximately intermediate of the two ends of the stem 33,there' is mounted, for longitudinal relative displacement, avvaive; 30having one face subjected to the action of a retum spring 3| and theother vlace abutting against a washerv which in turn rabuts. the tappedsleeve 33C. The`valve30 has atubular extension 30 provided with a collar Bfforming an abutment for the longitudinally sliding valve 31con'- trolledby a return 'spring 38, which `is 'abutted f f i.va'gainsta washer38a screwedin'the valve'hous- According to theinventionthepressure variaf l ingofthefcylinder 4. 4

A port'8 connects the chamber 31a* containing the valve 3ll to theatmosphere.` The lchamber 3l)b containing the valve 30 communicates withthe vatmosphere by a conduit '39t having :annade ijustable portcontrolled'byf'needle yva',lv`e "39.

The chamber 3| communicates v vth'the chamberj'l of the servo-motorthrough 'c'onduits`35',

In the chamber le ofthe servo-metorthere is reciprocaliy mounted apiston 9,`connected to the clutch operating fork 32 j by means of thevrod Il, one end of which is connectedtosaid piston', while the otherend of the rod ishinged to one end of ale'ver Ila keyed onto a shaft 32supporting the said fork.` The above described device is operated as`fol- When the vehicle is stopped, and Athe throttle is in apo'sitionfor the slow running speed of the engine, a maximum vacuum will'beproduced in the intake pipe of the carburetor. This maximum vacuum willalso be produced in the cylinder 40'whch is connected tothe intakeofthe.

carburetor through the port |4, said vacuum (whenconsidering Vthedrawing) and this piston will takey with itthe' operating stem33 for thevalves 3,0 and 31, thusclosing these valves ,and

:acting vto pull the piston M towardfs'the left the. ehamber'- lsl will4"cause the pistons 'of the servo-motor` to travel'to'wards the1eft,.and this piston will take with it rod Il', lever Hashaft 32 andfork.32,' thus Adisengaging the engine clutch. v'

To start the vehicle byasmooth and gradual clutching, the driver, afterhaving engagedthe gear yshifting lever, kpushes onthe accelerator of theengine in a smooth vand gradual manner. vThe vacuum in the intakemanifold decreases slowly in proportion as the carburetor throttle isopened, thus causing a decrease of the vacuum in the cylinder 40. Owingto .this slow decrease of vacuum, the piston 4I, under-*the resilient 2y amamosA action` oi' the -return .spring 42, willk move towards theright taking with it the `stern I3. The displacement f tl'ie'latter isvfirst effective in opening the valve 3 D,-thus connecting the cham- 5ber Il of the servo-motor' to the atmosphere through the conduit nehaving aninlet port restricted by the needle valve 39. The gradual ad'mission of air into the chamber I8 causesthe piston to slowly returntoits right hand position. 10 thus smoothlyl engaging the clutchconnected 'I'he vacuum decreasing in proportion `Vas the:

driver opens vthe throttle, thie valve 30 will be caused to openvtoA a.greater-extent, and `while so-,doing wiuabut with its iug'lnl, aesinetthek valve 31,. thus causing the latter to open., V'I'iae opening ofVthev valve'jl results info'.v rapid ilow :of air into .the chamber-i8,and ina iai en# fg'agement of 'tle clutch, the.vacuum :valve 29 2o beingoioseaby the movementoi rod lt to the l right. Y

To disengage or to engage the` clutch quick? i lizsuch as. when smftjng.from one speeld-hnothi-"r,y the deviceris operated, follows: ,v

' The accelerator pedal is suddenly released soi` i as to produce amaximum vacuum inthe intake'- manifoidvoi' .the engine and in thechamber. '4I of the servo-motor. piston I'I'Av'irill under I,the

- i action of this vvacuum y'produce a quick closingloi': "i

3o theair'fvalves 31 and I0 and opening of the valver v 29,' thuscausing the clutch to disengage.V After M having ."svhifted to thedesired'speed the driver duickly'pushes dovwnthe accelerator pedal,thusv reiiucins'to a minimum the eireot' of the vacuum yon, the;piston` lil which results .in j immediately opening theairjvalves 30andf3'l and closing the valve 29, so as to cause-*a rapid clutchengagement.

'Ihe inventionfthus covers the principle of au- 40 iomaticldeciutoningby the vsole -eireot of the in crease in vacuum inthe intake manifoldofthe Y engine when 'communication between tlieysaid intake manifold'and theV carburetor has been throttled lsufficiently by' releasing the`acceleratorv a pedal partly or entirely.

Having thus described 4my inventicn, what Iv y claim is: Y v .v 4 ,Y1.`In an'a'utcmatic clutch operating mechanism `for motor vehicleshaving a source of vacuum, a

' '50 servo-motor cylinder, a servo-motor piston in the i cylinderconnected to the clutch operating member, a distributor device forcontrciling'the pary tial vacuuxiir inthe 'servo-motor cylinder and 'lmeans forroperatin'g the distributor device in deplendence upon thedegree of vacuum in the vacuum source of the engine produced by thev idiiierent'positions' ofthe carburetor throttle valve L v.and the speedof the engine, soldk means "coni-lV i "prising'fan operating cylinder,yanvope'rating'pisf ton in said cylinder having one face subjected to"the sub-atmospheric pressure` and thev other face4 subjected to theatmospheric pressure, a resilientv acting on' said-'operating' piston insidi rection opposite to that lci' th'es'ub-atmospheric I pressure, anadjustable valve stem extending from K the said operating piston, avalve on said valve stem connecting the said servo-motor cylinder to thesource oi' vacuum when'the said operating piston is moved bythedifference in pressure between the sub-atmosphere and vtheatmosphere' difference in pressure due tothe ciosurelof thecarburetor-throttle. a

' retrlcted dir inlet t0 the diltl'lbuwr dem, l

secondvlve on said valve ltemconnecting the*l said servo-motor cylinderto the atmospherer throughthesaidrectrictedairinletwhmtheg operatingpiston is back by the said resilient means, the carburetor'throttle.valve being `vopened. andrmeans for a gradual control ci' theconnection between the servo-motor cylinder and v'the atmosphere. l0

.2; man automatic clutch operating mechanism :or motor vehicles having,a source ot vacmim, a servo-motor cylinder. a servofmotor piston in thecylinder-connected to the clutch operating. memauistributomovioorproontroiung the pnrtial vacuum, in the and ineens foroperating the; distxibuioiin io-v .num jot the'engine by the.diiterentjpcsitions of thel clburetor throttlevaive.- go said meanscomprising operating cylinder. an

operating rpiston in said4 cylinder khavingone v andthe other i'acesubjected tothe atmospheric pressure. a resilient means acting'on saidoperat-r 25 iigpiston in a' direction opposite' tothat'ct the'sub-atmospheric: pressure; valve stem Aextending from theysaidoperating piston,

servo-.motor Acylinder to' the of vacuim a@ when-tho said operatingrustenj is' moved bythe in i ythembemlc priere tothe closure of thecarburetor throttle, axi'estrictedfairiilet to the" distributor Ydevice,(second said u valve stem connecting the said servomotorcyiinderl to theatmosphere throughl thesaid restricted air inlet when the operatingpiston ispushedim bythe saidrevsilient throt' tle valve beingopened.-and of vac-i o uum-y decreased in the'air exhausterpa second fnon-restricted air inlet to the distributor device,`

a third valve" interposed between the said nonrestricted inlet and thecylinder.

i aresilientme'mber acting onthesaid third vain 5 in the direction lofclosure, and a lug on the said second valve positioned to open thesaid'V third valve whenthesaidsecondvalvehasbeenopened tos'omeextentp@3;--In an automatic clutch operating'lm oi fnism'i'orfmotbr'v'ehiclehaving a som'ce of vac.- uum. a-servo-mntorcylinder. a servo-motor pip ton inthe cylinder y'connectedclixtcliropmember. distributor devicetoroontrcl-kr lingthepartiai-vacimmiu cylin s Yder, a chamber in communication with thesource.

ci!l vacuum. a wall in'rl'aid meansfor connecting nid-movable'wailtorlaid 1 distributor for latter dineren# tial pressure@ created bythe presence'oi timone o0 Ypheric pressure on'one tace of said movablewall and-subother facek on said movable-wai! in a directioncppcstte tothatoi'thevacum: u

4. In an automatic clutch operating mechanism v according to claim-3.means for regulating the Y velocity of movement of the servo-motorpiston, in the clutch 8118881118 direction.`

cvablewall; andreailient meansiacting Y

